Wednesday, 30 April 2008

China blames Kenya for buying its fakes

Writing in Nationmedia ("China’s theory on counterfeits"), Kaburu Mugambi reports that the Chinese are pointing the finger of blame at importers who allegedly choose to buy low quality or counterfeit goods. This comes from China’s ambassador to Kenya, Zhang Ming, who asserts that his country also manufactures high quality products but that most traders in Kenya prefer to buy products “which are not of very good quality”. He was responding to queries raised by traders who said that they normally get good quality samples from Chinese manufacturers, but after placing orders, they are shocked to discover the products are of a much lower grade. China remains Kenya’s major source of imports, while Kenya’s exports to China remain far lower.